Mounting Deck Spreader Lights

[gradyrod]

I want to mount spreader lights to my T-top large diameter tube, either one in the center or two --one on each side -- facing aft. Anyone have a suggestion as to how to mount them other than welding on a tab and fastening to that tab. I want to avoid welding and need to mount directly to the aluminum tube.

Also, what is best way to get wires through the tubes and down to the fuse panel? I figured an electician's snake might be the way to go. Also, what size hole should I drill to snake the wire through the tubes?

Thanks all !!

Rodd
1985 Fisherman 204
1998 Johnson 175

 

[gradyfish22]

Yup, electrician's snake would work best to run the wires, that is how we ran the wires for my additonal 3 spreader lights. some manufacturer's make a mount that clamps onto a rail, I believe Perko has one, but there are others also, this will prevent the need to weld.
Also, Lunar"Polaris" lights are LED spreader lights, they come on a ball joint and can be mounted to almost anything. BOE Marine has them at an intro price of $79 bucks. They are LED's and draw 1 amp per light, as opposed to 4.6 for a 55watt halogen. If you run a Halogen off your batteries with the engines off, you have maybe 1 hour of battery before your a sitting duck. The LED's will keep your bank from drawing too low and give you a lot more time, and since ti draws less the alternator will charge it quicker. The lights will be out in March. Vision X also makes a good spreader LED light, the XIL-40($150). I am putting 3 XIL-80's and 2 XIL-40's on my boat to replace my 5 55watt halogens. I'm waiting for their sales rep to give me a quote since I'm buying a bunch. An alternative if you fish at night would be LED rope lighting under the gunnels to light the cockpit for fishing.
Just don;t want you to think you can run them to fish under all night, I've seen too many guys do this and get stranded on the water with dead batteries.

 

[jimfish]

fishing wires..

I used my vacuum to pull a leader string thru the tube from my access hole. I put a small button on the leader string. Worked well!!

 

[gradyrod]

pulling wires

Thanks guys! I will try out that vacuum idea--sounds like fun! I guess you use very light thread like sewing thread witha small button attached to be swept up by the vac. should work!

Another question: What size wire did you run for the 5 amp draw spreader light(s)? Did you run 2 individual wires, or a duplex wire in a sheathe? What size hole did you have to drill in the tube and how did you seal it?

 

[Boats Rock]

14 gauge 2 wire min unless your tower is grounded. One is a ground the other B+. Hole size is determined by the rubber or plastic grommet you use to prevent wire chaffing.

 

[gradyrod]

Grounding question

Thanks Boatsrock. You bring up the question of grounding the tower. Is this something that is recommended--does it help with lightning? or does a grounded tower help to further attract a strike?? Does it cause any corrosion of the Aluminum?

Where do you purchase the rubber grommets you talked about?

 

[Boats Rock]

Grommets can be purchased at any NAPA auto parts store. The problem with grounding the tower is if there is a back feed from a electric component it will interfere with the radios. I am not sure if lightning is attracted to a grounded or ungrounded tower.
My tower is ungrounded I rewired my lights with paired 2 wire from NAPA and made sure the main ground was clean and tight.
I used to get low voltage error reports from my electronics when I first got the boat. But after replacing corroded wiring and cleaning terminals problem solved. I found all these problems by doing a voltage drop test from the tower to the batteries.